Self-esteem, Depression, and Anxiety Evidenced by a Prison Inmate Sample: Interrelationships and Consequences for Prison Programming

• NCJ Number: 170257
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 77 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1997) Pages: 259-280
• Author(s): T C Castellano; I R Soderstrom
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Levels of self-esteem, depression, and anxiety were studied among a sample of Illinois prison inmates who had recently completed or were enrolled in prerelease courses offering life skills training.

Abstract

The inmates were all participants in the PreStart program, which included 30 hours of programming related to life skills. The research gathered information from inmates at 14 correctional facilities. The inmates had completed at least half of the 10 PreStart modules. Commonly used instruments assessed the participants' depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Four hundred ten fully usable survey questionnaires were obtained in 1992; 381 were obtained in 1993. The analysis focused on the 1992 participants. These inmates were a very depressed and anxious group and had little self-esteem. The characteristics seemed to be concentrated among certain inmates; those who experienced low self-esteem were also more likely than others to display high levels of depression and anxiety. Findings suggested the need to consider developing prerelease programming that directly addresses levels of inmate anxiety and depression. Tables, notes, and 30 references (Author abstract modified)